Saturday, April 11, 2015

Atril 11, 2015 (sputniknews.com) The United Kingdom will increase the
supply of non-lethal equipment to Ukraine, Defense Minister Michael
Fallon said in London on Friday. According to Fallon, Britain
also intends to assist NATO in strengthening its combat capability. In
particular, the British armed forces will participate more actively
in Alliance exercises and in patrolling Baltic airspace. On March 6,
the United Kingdom pledged to provide to Ukraine a package of non-lethal
military equipment, including helmets, night-vision goggles, GPS units,
hardened laptops and first aid kits, worth nearly $1.3 billion. London has
previously sent Kiev $1.8 billion worth of equipment, including personal
protective equipment and fuel for the winter.

Last month, some 35 UK military
instructors reportedly began training Ukrainian soldiers fighting
against independence militias in the east of the country. UK
instructors arrived in Ukraine's southern city of Mykolaiv and are
expected to stay for two months, improving Ukrainian troop skills
in defense and medical aid.

The military conflict
between Kiev and pro-independence forces of the Donbas started April
2014 and has killed over 6,000 people, according to UN estimates. The
warring sides have signed a ceasefire deal, on February 15.